Packaging and display device

ABSTRACT

Abstract of the Disclosure Packaging and display device that enables ready visual inspection of the contents of the package. The device includes an outer housing and an inner housing that are pivotally interconnected so that the inner housing can be moved from a first position interiorly of the outer housing to a second position wherein the inner housing extends outwardly from the outer housing in a manner to permit unobstructed viewing of the contents of the package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to packaging. More particularly, the invention concerns an improved package of unique design that comprises an outer housing and a pivotally mounted inner container housing for use in storing, transporting, and displaying a variety of small objects.

[0003] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art

[0004] Numerous types of packaging and display devices have been suggested in the past. Many of the prior art display containers devices are formed from a blank cut from a sheet of heavy paper or plastic that is folded along fold lines to form the container. This approach is cost effective, but often the display container lacks structural integrity.

[0005] For purposes of sales display, it is desirable that a display package be capable of being mounted or suspended from a rod secured within a pegboard. Several prior art-packaging devices include this feature. Exemplary of such a device is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,320 issue Vanasse. The Vanasse package includes a thin wall bottom structure and a thin wall top structure movable with respect to the bottom structure between open and closed positions. The improvement comprises a pair of back-to-back secured panels and a flap that are exteriorly removably attached to the box for positively locking the box in a closed position in response to the movement thereof from an open position into a.closed position. The closed box can be suspended from a pegboard peg or the like in the manner shown in FIG. 3 of the Vanasse patent.

[0006] Another type of packaging device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,129 issued to Cugley. The Cugley patent discloses an improved one-piece, reusable container formed from transparent plastic. The lid of the container is clear and transparent with no distortion to permit easy viewing of the contents. The sides of the container chamber are slanted inward to allow nesting of the containers during shipping. The container has a latch to ensure that it will not open during shipping and display, but will only open when the lid and chamber are pulled apart in a predetermined manner.

[0007] Many of the prior art packaging display devices are of a complex construction and frequently are difficult to open and close. Similarly, many of the prior art packaging devices are unattractive in appearance and some are of a fragile construction, which makes them generally unreliable in use.

[0008] The thrust of the present invention is to provide a novel packaging and display container that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art packaging and display devices and at the same time provides an attractive, highly reliable, and uniquely constructed packaging and display device that is easy to use and immediately attracts the attention of a potential purchaser of the goods being displayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved packaging and display device that is of a unique design that enables ready visual inspection of the contents of the package.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide an improved packaging and display device that is fabricated from two blanks cut from plastic or paper material which can be assembled to form an outer housing and an inner housing that are pivotally interconnected so that the inner housing can be moved from a first position interiorly of the outer housing to a second position wherein the inner housing extends outwardly from the outer housing in a manner to permit unobstructed viewing of the contents of the package.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a packaging and display device of the aforementioned character that includes an improved peg board hanging structure which is moved into an operating position only upon the pivotal movement of the inner container housing relative to the outer housing.

[0012] Another object of the invention is to provide a device as described in the preceding paragraphs, which is inexpensive to manufacture, and one, which can be readily assembled from two flat panels.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in the preceding paragraphs in which the inner the container that is typically connected to the outer container is formed from a substantially transparent material so that the contents thereof can be readily viewed.

[0014] Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described that is easy to use and can be readily opened to gain access to the contents of the packaging.

[0015] Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which, because of its unique construction and operation, will tend to attract the attention of potential purchasers viewing the device on a conventional sales display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a generally perspective view of one form of the packaging device of the invention.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0018]FIG. 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a generally perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, but showing the packaging device in an open configuration.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

[0021]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

[0022]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 5.

[0023]FIG. 8 is a generally perspective view of the outer housing portion of the form of the packaging device shown in FIG. 1.

[0024]FIG. 9 is a generally perspective view of the inner portion of the packaging device shown in FIG. 1.

[0025]FIG. 10 is a plan view of the starting substrate that is folded to produce the outer housing of the packaging device shown in FIG. 1.

[0026]FIG. 11 is an enlarged plan view of the substrate that is folded to produce the inner housing of the packaging device shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4 one form of the packaging and display device of the invention is there shown in generally designated by the numeral 20. The device here comprises an outer housing 22 having interconnected front, back, side and top walls 24, 26, 28 and 30 respectively. As best seen by referring to FIG. 4, the device also includes an inner housing 32 that is pivotally connected to outer housing 22 for movement between a first position shown in FIG. 1 wherein said inner housing is disposed within said outer housing and a second position shown in FIG. 4 wherein a substantial portion of the inner housing is disposed outside the outer housing. Inner housing 32 also has interconnected front, back, side and top walls 34, 36, 38, 38 a and 40 respectively. As best seen in FIG. 9 each of the spaced apart side walls 38 and 38 a of the inner housing 32 has an opening 42 which is indexedly aligned with openings 44 formed in the side walls of outer housing 22 (see FIGS. 4 and 9). As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, specifically designed pivot pins or members 46 extend into the aligned openings in the side walls of the outer and inner housings to pivotally interconnect the housings together.

[0028] Referring particularly to FIG. 5 it can be seen that the back wall of inner housing 32 includes first, second and third adjacent portions 48, 50 and 54 respectively. As indicated in the drawings, first portion 48 spans said side walls 3 8 and 38 a of the inner housing 32 and the second portion 50 is disposed proximate back wall 26 of outer housing 22 (see also FIG. 2). As indicated in FIG. 2, the back wall 26 of the outer housing 22 is spaced apart from the top wall 30 of the outer housing to define a passageway 58 through which portion 52 of the back wall of the inner housing is slidably movable when the inner housing is moved from the closed position shown in FIG. 2 to the open position shown in FIG. 5. More particularly, when the inner housing is moved into the lower position shown in FIG. 5 portion 52 of back wall 36 will move from the retracted position shown in FIG. 2 to the extended position shown in FIG. 4 wherein portion 52 of the back wall of the inner housing extends through passageway 58. To enable the portion 52 of the back wall to move from the retracted position into the extended position, the back wall is provided with a plurality of transverse striations 64 that cooperate to form a living hinge between portions 48 and 50 of the back wall (see FIG. 11). The function and operation of the living hinge will be described more fully hereinafter. In order that the device of the invention can be supported from a conventional peg in a pegboard, portion 52 of the back wall is provided with an aperture 60 there through.

[0029] In one form of the invention the inner and outer housings are formed from generally planar foldable material. More particularly outer housing 22 is formed from a foldable blank of heavy paper or cardboard generally designated in FIG. 10 by the numeral 65. Similarly, inner-housing 32 is formed from a generally planar foldable, substantially transparent, plastic blank generally designated in FIG. 11 by the numeral 66. It is to be understood that the inner and outer housings can be formed of various materials including the metal or wood or, alternatively, the housings can be cast from various materials.

[0030] Turning particularly to FIG. 10, it can be seen that in addition to the front, back, side wall and top segments 24, 26, 28 and 30 respectively of the outer container planar member 65, this foldable member also includes a locking tab segment 68 that is foldably connected to top segment 30 and a pair of the side support segments 70 and 71 that are foldably connected to side wall segments 28. Side support 70 has a foldable tab 70 a and side support and 71 has a foldable tab 71 a. The purpose of these tabs will presently be described. In constructing the outer housing 22, the side supports 70 and 71 are folded about first and second fold lines 73 and 73 a respectively so that they are closely adjacent to the sidewalls 28. As the side support 70 moves into engagement with the left sidewall as viewed in FIG. 10, tab portion 70 a will engage back wall 26. Similarly, as side support 71 moves into engagement with the right side wall 28 as viewed in FIG. 10, foldable. tab 71 a will move into engagement with an extension wall segment 29 that is foldably interconnected with and extends outwardly from the right and side wall 28 as viewed in FIG. 10. Once in their folded position, the side supports are then interconnected with the sidewalls by any suitable means such as adhesive bonding.

[0031] In continuing the folding process, back 26 is next folded along a third fold line 75 causing foldable tab 70 a to fold along a fourth fold line 77. This done, extension wall segment 29 is folded along a fifth fold line 81 causing foldable tab 71 a to fold along a sixth fold line 83. Back 26 is then further folded along fold line 75 until the outboard portion of the back 26 overlaps extension wall 29. The back wall portion 26 is then secured to the extension wall segment 29 by any suitable means such as adhesive bonding to form a precursor, box-like structure. With the back wall 26 secured to the extension wall segment 29, sidewall tab portions 86, which are foldably connected to sidewalls 28 along seventh fold lines 89 are folded inwardly along the fold lines. This done, top wall 30 is folded along a ninth fold line 91 and at the same time locking tab 68 is folded along a tenth fold line 93 and is inserted into the previously identified passageway 52 to close the top of the box-like structure (see FIGS. 2 and 5). Finally, bottom wall 96, which is foldably connected to back wall 22, is folded inwardly along fold line 99 in the manner shown in FIG. 8 to partially close the bottom of the box-like structure.

[0032] Turning to FIG. 11, the generally planer member 66 from which inner housing 32 is formed is there shown in its planar configuration. In addition to the back wall segment 36, which has a first second and third portions 48, 50 and 52, the planar starting member includes a side extension wall segment 48 a that is connected to portion 48 of the back wall segment along an eleventh fold line 101. Disposed between sidewall segments 38 and 38 a is an inner support segment 104 that includes first and second portions 104 a and 104 b that are interconnected by a living hinge formed from a plurality of transverse striations 106. Also forming a part of starting member 65 are inner side wall support segments 108 a and 108 b. Sidewall support segment 108 a is connected to portion 104 a of segment 104 along a fold line 109. While sidewall support segment 108 b is connected to portion 104 b along a old line 111.

[0033] In constructing the inner housing, side wall support segments 108 a and 108 b are first folded along fold lines 109 and 111 land segment 104 is then folded along living hinge striations 106 in a manner to bring support segments 108 a and 108 b into engagement with side segments 38 a and 38 respectively which have been folded along thirteenth and fourteenth fold lines 113 and 115 respectively. Segment 108 a is then interconnected with side segment 38 a by any suitable means such as adhesive bonding and segment 108 b is interconnected with side segment 38 by any suitable means such as adhesive bonding to form a first subassembly. Next, portion 48 of back wall segment 36 is folded a long a sixteenth fold line 117 to bring the back wall portion into engagement with the previously formed first subassembly. This done, segment 48 a is folded about fold line 101 to bring it into engagement with sidewall segment 38. Segment 48 a is then affixed to sidewall segment 38 by any suitable means such as adhesive bonding to form a second subassembly. Locking tabs 120, which are interconnected to side wall segments 38 and 38 a are then folded inwardly along fold lines 121 and top wall 40 is folded along a fold line 123 in a manner to bring a locking tab 40 a that is connected to top 40 along fold line 125 into engagement with portion 104 a of inner segment 104 in the manner shown in FIGS. 5 and 9. Finally, back wall 36 is folded along living hinge striations 64 in a manner to bring portion 50 thereof into engagement with segment 104 a and to form a curved bottom wall 124 (FIG. 9).

[0034] The assembly shown in FIG. 9 that is formed in the manner described in the preceding paragraph is interconnected with outer housing 22 by inserting the inner housing into the outer housing in a manner to align apertures 42 of the inner housing within apertures 44 of the outer housing. This done, pivot pins 46 are inserted through the apertures to pivotally interconnect together the inner and outer housings 22 and 32 (see FIG. 1). With the inner and outer housings thus assembled, movement of the inner housing from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 5 will cause portion 52 of back wall 36 to move upwardly through passageway 58 into the extended position shown in FIG. 5. Because the starting member 66 is preferably formed of a substantially transparent plastic, when the device is either in the position shown in FIG. 1 or in the position shown in FIG. 5, articles contained within the inner housing are readily visible to the prospective purchaser. To permit to the inner housing to be expeditiously pivoted into the second position shown in FIG. 5, front wall 24 of the outer housing is provided with a finger receiving opening 128 (FIG. 8).

[0035] In use, housing 32 can easily be opened to access its contents by folding top wall 40 along fold line 91.

[0036] Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A packaging and display device comprising: (a) an outer housing having interconnected front, back, side and top walls, each said sidewall having an aperture there through; (b) an inner housing pivotally connected to said outer housing for movement between a first position wherein said inner housing is disposed within said outer housing and a second position wherein a substantial portion of said inner housing is disposed outside said outer housing, said inner housing having spaced apart side walls, each said side wall having an opening; and (c) pivot pins extending into said openings in said sidewalls of said outer and inner housings to pivotally interconnect together said outer and inner housings.
 2. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said inner housing further includes a front wall spanning said sidewalls of said inner housing.
 3. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said inner housing further includes a back wall having first, second and third adjacent portions, said first portion spanning said side walls of said inner housing and said second portion being disposed proximate said back wall of said outer housing.
 4. The device as defined in claim 3 in which said back wall of said outer housing is spaced apart from said top wall of said outer housing to define a passageway and in which said third portion of said back wall of said inner housing extends through said passageway when said inner housing is in said second position.
 5. The device as defined in claim 4 in which said third portion of said back wall of said inner housing is provided with an opening.
 6. The device as defined in claim 4 in which said first and second portions of said back wall of said inner housing are hingedly connected by a living hinge.
 7. The device as defined in claim 4 in which said inner housing further includes a curved bottom wall connected to said first wall of said inner housing.
 8. The device as defined in claim 7 in which said front wall of said inner housing is substantially transparent.
 9. The device as defined in claim 8 in which said front wall of said outer housing is provided with a finger receiving opening.
 10. A packaging and display device comprising: (a) an outer housing formed from a first foldable blank, said outer housing having interconnected front, back, side and top walls, each said side wall having an opening; (b) an inner housing formed from a second foldable blank, said inner housing being pivotally connected to said outer housing for movement between a first position wherein said inner housing is disposed within said outer housing and a second position wherein a substantial portion of said inner housing is disposed outside said outer housing, said inner housing having: (i) spaced apart sidewalls, each said sidewall having an aperture there through; (ii) a front wall spanning said side walls of said inner housing, and (iii) a back wall having first, second and third adjacent portions, said portion spanning said side walls of said inner housing and said second portion being disposed proximate said back wall of said outer housing; and (c) pivot pins extending into said openings in said sidewalls of said outer and inner housings to pivotally interconnect together said outer and inner housings.
 11. The device as defined in claim 10 in which said back wall of said outer housing is spaced apart from said top wall of said outer housing to define a passageway and in which said third portion of said back wall of said inner housing extends through said passageway when said inner housing is in said second position.
 12. The device as defined in claim 11 in which said third portion of said back wall of said inner housing is provided with an aperture there through.
 13. The device as defined in claim 12 in which said first and second portions of said back wall of said inner housing are hingedly connected by a living hinge.
 14. The device as defined in claim 13 in which said front wall of said outer housing is provided with a finger receiving opening.
 15. The device as defined in claim 14 in which said inner housing further includes an inner support segment interconnected with said sidewalls of said inner housing.
 16. A foldable material for constructing a packaging and display device, said foldable material comprising: (a) a first foldable blank comprising: (i) a pair of spaced apart sidewalls segments; (ii) a back wall segment foldably connected to one of said sidewalls segments; (iii) a front wall segment disposed between and interconnected with said pair of spaced apart side walls segments; and (iv) a top wall segment foldably interconnected to said front wall segment; and (b) a second foldable blank comprising: (i) a pair of spaced apart sidewalls segments; (ii) an inner support segment disposed between and interconnected with said pair of spaced apart sidewalls segments; (iii) a back wall segment foldably interconnected with one of said spaced apart side walls segments, said back wall segments having a plurality of transversally extending striations; and (iv) a top wall segment foldably interconnected with said back wall segment.
 17. The foldable material as described in claim 16 in which said first foldable blank further includes first and second side wall support segments disposed between and interconnected with said spaced apart side walls segments.
 18. The foldable material as described in claim 16 in which said inner support segment of said second foldable blank is provided with a plurality of transversally extending striations.
 19. The foldable material as described in claim 16 in which said first foldable blank is formed from a heavy paper material.
 20. The foldable material as described in claim 19 in which said second foldable blank is formed from a substantially transparent plastic material. 